James Pierce
James Pierce was reluctant to get started in the sport of wheelchair curling, but once he got involved, he was hooked. "At first I wasn't that interested," Pierce said, "but after learning more about the game and how it is played, I became very interested. I look at it as playing chess on ice. You always have to anticipate your opponent's next move." Vancouver will be Pierce's second appearance competing in the Paralympic Winter Games.
The sport itself, however, hasn't been the biggest part of what makes his experience so enjoyable. "The thing that I enjoy most is all of the friendly people involved with the sport and the great sportsmanship that surrounds the game."
Off the ice, Pierce enjoys playing wheelchair basketball, football and soccer.
Major Achievements:
- 2009: Gold medal - Kathy Kerr Open, Ottawa Canada
- 2009: Gold Medal - U.S. Open
- 2009: Bronze medal - Kingross Invitational, Scotland
- 2009: Forth place - World Wheelchair Championship, Vancouver, Canada
- 2008: Nominated to 2010 U.S. Paralympic Wheelchair Curling Team
- 2008: Bronze medal - World Wheelchair Curling Championship, Sursee, Switzerland
- 2007: Fifth place - World Wheelchair Curling Championship, Sollefteå, Sweden
- 2006: Eighth place - Paralympic Winter Games, Torino, Italy
- 2005: Eighth place - World Wheelchair Curling Championship, Glasgow, Scotland
- 2004: Gold medal - National Wheelchair Curling Championship, Utica, N.Y.
